TELEVISION BROADCAST December, 1991

GUEST COMMENTARY

Devaluating master control operators: a false economy?

By Alan H. Kline,OPERATIONS TECHNICIANKTSF-TV SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO--In the March (1991) issue of TELEVISION BROADCAST, Tom Bracanovich, the engineering group vice president of Malrite Communications, described his master control operators as "...the lowest skilled positions at the stations. They usually come to us with no background at all. Those with technical schooling go into repair and maintenance."

To me, this comment indicates a lack of understanding and lack of respect for what is still a highly skilled position. It seems to imply that MCR work is beneath anyone with any significant background. Unfortunately, this also seems to be an attitude shared by many within the industry today.